[purslaine]

Poll time!

Cross posting (learning at home and at school).

I was wonderring what everyones default was. Please answer on what you believe now, not on what you actually did. If your answer has changed over time, please share what happennned to make it change.

I do understand not everyone is in the position of being able to even have a "default" (such as having a medical condition and needing your children to go to school during the day or needing to Hs because the schools in your neighbourhood are drug infested, gang ridden, violent places). Please ignore the poll or answer as if you had a choice (or stick it in other

)

Option 1:

HSing is the default for my family. Kids can go to a brick and mortar school if HSing ultimately does not work out.

Option 2:

Brick and Mortar is the default for my family. Kids should start in a brick and mortar school and we will HS if brick and mortar ultimately does not work out.

Option 3: There is NO default. We decide based on individual childs needs when they reach "K" age where to place them. Determining where a child will thrive is always do-able; there is no need for a default.

Option 4: We decide based on individual childs needs when they reach "K" age where to place them. If there is no clear answer, or if children will thrive in both circumstances, HSing is our default

Option 5: We decide based on individual childs needs when they reach "K" age where to place them. If there is no clear answer, or if children will thrive in both circumstances, brick and mortar is our default

Option 6: Other

 

[earthmama369]

Good options. That's the most thoughtful poll I've come across yet. For us, it's option 4. And for differing reasons for both kids, it looks like we will be homeschooling long term, but I suspect at some point dd is going to want to try public school. And we'll talk about it when she does; I'm open to the idea.

 

[purslaine]

Quote:

Originally Posted by earthmama369 Good options. That's the most thoughtful poll I've come across yet. For us, it's option 4. And for differing reasons for both kids, it looks like we will be homeschooling long term, but I suspect at some point dd is going to want to try public school. And we'll talk about it when she does; I'm open to the idea.

Thank you!

Polls are darn tricky to make!

 

[Peony]

I used to believe option 1 was my default, now I'm more along the lines of #4.

As much as I cringe at sending DD1 off to 1st grade next year, I know that I can not meet her needs at home. Now DD2 will probably be a different story, I can already tell the night and day difference between how a dyslexic and non-dyslexic child learn. Maybe in a few years once DD1 gets a few years of therapy, she can be back at home with us.

 

[EFmom]

We live in an excellent school district. We bought our house based on the schools. If, for some reason, the school collapsed, I'd move to a different district.

I'd chew my left leg off before I homeschooled. It is not what I want for any of us.

 

[annethcz]

I picked option #5- that the decision is based on the child, but that B&M school is the default. HOWEVER, this is not how we started out. To begin with, all of our kids were homeschooled. Now they're all in school.

Although I'd be happy to homeschool again, school is working out for everyone and quite honestly, I REALLY like having more time to myself while the kids are at school.

 

[Llyra]

DH and I believe very much in homeschooling, or unschooling even. Philosophically, we think it's a great choice, and we were always convinced that all our kiddos would be HSed. However, as DD1 gets closer to school-age, I'm starting to realize it just isn't the right choice for her, not right now. With the twins-- who knows? We'll decide when they're older. It depends on a lot of factors. And DD1 may still wind up at home later on.

Anyway, I picked #1, but I meant to pick #4, so I guess I messed up. Sorry.

 

[straighthaircurly]

I picked #5. I had to really think carefully about the best option for my son as he has the potential to be a bad fit in a brick & mortar setting. But I wanted to try that first and homeschool if it went badly because of his dynamics with me I know homeschooling also might not work for him. So far so good with the school experience. We seemed to have found a good fit for him and he is thriving. Of course, I am combining it with a lot of backup from home, both interms of support in his school setting as a weekly volunteer and with enrichment at home since his school offers no specific gifted/talented program.

 

[waiflywaif]

Quote:

I'd chew my left leg off before I homeschooled. It is not what I want for any of us.

Me too. We have great schools here and lots of different options. Homeschooling would be a total last resort.

 

[KBinSATX]

I chose option 2 but really my decision maker would be the quality of B&M school available.
If a great school would be available I'd be totally open to that.

 

[InstinctiveMom]

My default is homeschooling, even though my kids are both in a brick and mortar school. It's working for us now, but it may not always; I "feel" like a hsing mom (if that makes any sense at all, lol).

 

[sunnmama]

Public school has always been our default (always chose homes on the basis of the schools we preferred, and believe in the value of public education), but dd was completely unready for away school at K age. I willingly, and happily, homeschooled her until she was ready to attend school (this year, 2nd grade), but I am so thrilled she is now thriving in school! It just works better for all of us.

 

[ProtoLawyer]

Public, brick and mortar. Private if necessary.

We will not homeschool under any circumstances.

 

[philomom]

Quote:

Originally Posted by EFmom We live in an excellent school district. We bought our house based on the schools. If, for some reason, the school collapsed, I'd move to a different district. I'd chew my left leg off before I homeschooled. It is not what I want for any of us.

Yes, this is similar to us as well.

I did homeschool one child for a time due to overcrowding at school that year. If I homeschooled the other child, I'd be ready for the rubber room pretty darn quick.

 

[Flor]

I went to some mediocre schools and some great schools. I want ds to have that experience of a great school. For me it is a small school, lots of activities and options, lots of art, nature, music, projects, theater, community service, adventures. That isn't available in the public schools here, but he is in a private Montessori that is just right for him. I love a good school and I want him to have that experience. I would want to homeschool rather than put him in a mediocre school.

 

[sagira]

HS is default here -- we're having too much fun, we love the freedom and ds is blossoming into a curious, book-loving, independent thinker. And I have an excuse to read lots and lots of books and participate in learning with my two kids -- yay!

:

 

[theretohere]

Brick and mortar school is my metal default, or at least was. We're homeschooling and it's changing in my mind.

 

[ChetMC]

I said other because I anticipate some combination of homeschooling and institutional schooling for our family

I'm not a person who believes that institutional learning in inherently flawed, but I'm also not one of these people who believes that going to school is necessary or superior. I think a lot of people actually give school way too much credit. Kids can learn anywhere, and if they spend most of their time at school, then they'll learn at school. There's nothing magic about school, but there isn't necessarily anything evil about it either (even if there are particular teachers or principals or programs that are magic or evil in the case of a particular child).

Situations will certainly arise for us where homeschooling is the most reasonable option for some or all of our children. In particular :

- moving around for DH's work may put the kids in a situation where they're behind, ahead or out of sync with the school system available to us, and we'll homeschool if it's the easiest way to address the situation.

- we hope to do a couple of extended family trips / sabbaticals while the kids are growing up, and if we're in India or up north for four months we expect to home school.

With four kids, odds are reasonably high that some will find their groove at school and some will be better suited to learning at home. We'd planned to home school our oldest for kindergarten, but she's desperate to go to school, and we don't have any reason not to send her. However, we'll always offer an environment conducive to learning and exploring at home. The kids who go to school will be home schooled to some degree afternoons, evenings, weekends and holidays.

 

[1growingsprout]

HS is our default and its non-negotiable for a number of reasons.
1. My oldest is gifted/talented and there is no funding in AZ for his level of learning. DD#1 is following closely behind him... after HS the first 2 the rest just happen. LOL
2. My kids do many outside classes and activities... library programs, city programs, special interest classes etc. Plus we have loads of time for the park, art, museums, etc... most of that would be missed if they were sitting in a classroom 8-3 m-f
3. I love my kids..and so does DH.

 

[waiflywaif]

Quote:

3. I love my kids..and so does DH.

Pardon, but how can this be a reason for homeschooling? Can you explain?